Quote:
Originally Posted by phantomtiger2
WOW, can't believe someone actually goes that far back and visited AC in the 1980's, I thought I was the only one that made it there during the early and "wild" days.
For that I have to thank the Singapore Government for introducing me to the cheonging lifestyle.... who says NS is no good? My only regret is I was posted there for 9 months only..... how I wished I could have served my entire NS stint there.
As for the Prices: Here is my take on the matter as believe it or not but prices are still a bargain today in AC. It's a bargain then and still a bargain now. Reason is simple. If I remember correctly the exchange rate back in 80'-90s were about US $1 = 25peso. Today its almost double that at US $1=42peso. And if you also accounted for inflation over 20-30 years (just look at how much 1 gallon of gas or loaf of bread cost in the 80s and compare with today) and I could even venture to say it might even be "cheaper" in AC today with everything factored in.--just my IMO of course.
No way the present prices could have been cheaper than those days even with inflation factored in..... My NS pay back then was only Sgd$90/= and after deductions was left with $66/= for the entire month..... yet I could party almost every evening. 
The present NSF gets paid much more than we were but I doubt they can last 2 days on their pay in AC now.
As for the "toning down"-- remember back then AC was controlled by the US military (although it was by the PI govt only in name) as the PI was getting paid very well over the table as well as under it.
PT |
There was a period when all the American forces were confined to Base and not allowed into the bars due to friction between the locals and AngMos and killings on both sides were fairly common...... yet there would be some who would sneak out from the Base to visit the bars and risk getting caught by the MPs.
We were the envy of the Base as we had no such restrictions and could move in andout freely.